American Heritage beats Osceola 3-0

February 2, 2013|By Melinda Waldrop, Correspondent

PLANTATION — It took 25 seconds for American Heritage to erase 40 minutes of frustration in Friday night's Class 3A state semifinals against Osceola.

Melanie Monteagudo, who misfired on multiple shot attempts in a scoreless first half dominated by the Patriots, crossed to Martha Thomas, who sparked Heritage's 3-0 victory with a goal from five yards out to open the second period.

Four minutes later, Alyssa Robinson took advantage of a Warriors turnover to put Heritage up 2-0.

"It was a little frustrating, but at the end of the day, we don't give up," said Thomas, a junior who missed more than a more of playing time early in the season with a hyperextended knee. "In the second half, we came out strong, scoring in the first couple of minutes. We get one, we break teams down, and that's just how we work."

Heritage, the 2010 state champions who lost last year's state championship to Ponte Vedra on penalty kicks, are Broward County's lone girls team still competing for a state soccer title. The Patriots, seeking their seventh state title since 2000, will again face Ponte Vedra, a 1-0 winner against Mitchell, on Saturday at Melbourne High.

Thomas added a second goal on a header on Robinson's cross with 8:20 to play for her eighth goal in her last four games.

The Patriots (25-2), who've given up just six goals all season, won their region semifinal and final games by a combined score of 10-0 and their district semis and championship by a combined 12-0.

The Patriots had plethora of scoring chances in the first half, but couldn't convert against the Warriors' packed-in defense.

One of Heritage's best chances came when Osceola's Shalia Roland and Gabrielle Holcombe collided on defense, leading to a Patriots break with 13:15 left in the first half. After Monteagudo's shot was deflected, Julia Jaffe was there for the rebound, but pushed the shot wide right.

Four minutes later, the Warriors (19-2-1) got a rare scoring chance after a foul 15 yards from the goal, but Cassidy Reich's free kick was wide left.

Broncos lose 4-0

MIAMI — For the Palm Beach Central girls soccer team, the amazing run has come to an end.

Three days after knocking off two-time defending champion and nationally-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas, the Broncos traveled south the face Miami Lourdes in a Class 5A state semifinal.

Friday, there was no magical finish as the Bobcats earned a 4-0 victory to advance to the state championship game and end Palm Beach Central's season.

Lourdes, which has advanced to the state semifinals three times in program history, will make its first title game appearance. It was Central's first state semifinal appearance.

"It was a great season and these girls really took Palm Beach Central soccer to another level," said Broncos coach Thomas Dawkins. "We ran out of gas and had too many injuries. But it was a great year. There are 100-something schools in 5A and we made it to the final four. They gave it their all."

While the Broncos (21-2) got a boost Friday with the return of standout Yulie Lopez, their leading scorer and a Florida State signee, it wasn't enough.

Lopez, who injured her ankle in the win over St. Thomas, utilized her speed to create a number of scoring opportunities for Central in the first half. But Lourdes keeper Jenny Herold held her own, making three quality saves. On the other end, Broncos keeper Haley Brunner made five saves to help send the game to a scoreless tie at halftime.